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- Written by: Roger Fulton
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Well known and loved by skiers who flock to the region's five ski areas every winter, an Aosta Valley summer holiday provides alternative ways to explore the Italian alps. Despite being Italy's smallest region, Aosta is blessed with beautiful natural sites, beginning with spectacular views of the Alps.
When summer comes to Aosta the melting snow reveals a network of hiking trails alongside cycle routes and a varied landscape that is home to a host of other outdoor activities. Overlooked by the four iconic 4,000m peaks of the Alps, including Europe's highest, Mont Blanc, this is a region studded with picturesque mountain villages, 100 castles, some dating back to the 11th century, and an elegant capital city, Aosta. It's also home to Italy's first National Park, Gran Paradiso, established in 1922 and which is home to 59 glaciers. Now it's a premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking nature-based and sustainable tourism experiences.
The area's astonishingly rich natural and cultural heritage is complemented by delectable local cuisine featuring cheeses, cured meats, mountain game, and high-altitude wines.
Plus, making the most of Aosta Valley is about to become even easier, with stage one of the mammoth Pila-Couis project nearing completion. The construction of the new 10-seater gondola lift will allow visitors to reach 2700m in just 15 minutes, leading to the panoramic Stella di Pila Refuge overlooking towering alpine peaks over 4000m high: Mont Blanc, Cervino, Monte Rosa, Grivola and Gran Paradiso. As of July 2025, the project is progressing on schedule, with the opening planned for December 2025.
Beyond just being a new lift, the project represents a breakthrough for ski and mountain bike enthusiasts, offering an improved sports experience for all levels and ages. Plus, it's also a great new feature for those who simply wish to admire one of the most spectacular views of the Alps. For more information about the project, go to domani.pila.it
Where is the Aosta Valley?
The smallest region of Italy, Aosta Valley is located in the north west corner of the country and is bordered by France and Switzerland. It's also overlooked by some of Europe's highest peaks: the Matterhorn (known in Italy as Cervino), Monte Rosa, Gran Paradiso and Mont Blanc, which at 15,781ft, is the highest mountain in Europe.
Its main resorts are Courmayeur, La Thuile, Cogne, Pila, Cervinia, Champoluc and Gressoney, along with the regional capital, Aosta itself.
Road-linked to France by the Mont-Blanc Tunnel and the Pass du Petit-Saint-Bernard and to Switzerland via the Grand-Saint-Bernard Pass and Tunnel, and with Turin, Milan and Geneva airports all within easy reach, the Aosta Valley resorts are among the easiest to get to from the UK, making it an ideal destination for a weekend or short break.
Is the Aosta Valley good for summer visitors?
This region boasts stunning mountains, dense forests, lush pastures, serene lakes, rushing torrents, and breathtaking waterfalls. Enhanced by so much extraordinary nature, cultural heritage dating back to Roman times, and an excellent choice of restaurants, there's an impressive range of outdoor activities to enjoy. A vast natural playground for everyone, the Aosta Valley offers a wide range of activities and outdoor sports, From mountaineering to leisurely walks, biking, or hot air ballooning, as well as rafting, canoeing, golf, and more.
Here's our guide to the best things to do in the Aosta Valley in summer.
Walking in the Aosta Valley
From leisurely strolls to high-mountain challenges, the Aosta Valley is home to a network of more than 2,000 walking trails, including some of the best walking holidays in Italy. With trails surrounded by 4,000m summits featuring beautiful chapels, delightful hamlets, alpine nature and spectacular mountain vistas, the options for outdoor enthusiasts are plentiful.
You can choose one-day excursions or multi-day treks, such as the Alte Vie trails or the international tours around the highest peaks of the Alps. You can also discover the five stages of the Via Francigena in the Aosta Valley, or walk along the Cammino Balteo, ideal in spring and autumn.
For more information about the best walking routes in the Aosta Valley, take a look at our guide to walking holidays in the Aosta Valley.
Biking and cycling in the Aosta Valley
Whether your tastes run to road cycling, mountain bike routes or freeride descents, Aosta Valley has you covered, with routes of all type that are among the best cycle routes in Italy.
For road riders, the Aosta Valley has many fun and scenic routes, from the most accessible - along the the valley floor or among vineyards and castles - to the most challenging, that will lead you up to the great alpine passes. The Aosta Valley is often used as a leg of the Giro d’Italia and offers 21 routes on inland roads providing many scenic and panoramic rides amidst spectacular scenery.
The region is also home to a wide selection of MTB routes to discover. Forest paths, mule tracks and farm roads form a network of more than 1,000 kilometres of dirt trails, many of which are suitable for mountain biking. Attention is recommended since these routes are also frequented by hikers.
Cogne Valley, a corner of unspoiled nature in the heart of Gran Paradiso National Park, is the perfect destination for MTB tours for every skill level, including e-bikers. Cogne boasts 45 kilometres of trails, some of which wind through the Gran Paradiso National Park, while the Monterosa area offers a plethorea of routes at the base of Monte Rosa. There are plenty of routes to explore in other resorts including Cervinia, Courmayeur and Gressoney-La-Trinité.
For lovers of thrilling downhill and freeride descents, unleash your desire for speed in downhill adrenalin-fuelled and fun technical trails of the bike parks. Pila, La Thuile, Breuil-Cervinia and other stations for a gravity bike in the Aosta Valley offer itineraries for all bikers.
For more details about the best cycle routes in the Aosta Valley, take a look at our guide to cycling holidays in the Aosta Valley.
Watersports in the Aosta Valley
During the summer months, Aosta Valley comes alive with its vibrant Alpine torrents, offering a host of water-based activities such as canoeing, kayaking, rafting, and hydrospeed, giving watersports enthusiasts adrenalin experiences, among fast-flowing water and natural slides. Expert guides cater to both beginners and seasoned enthusiasts, providing specialised programs categorised by difficulty and duration. Additionally, there are designated trails tailored specifically for children, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the thrill of navigating these fiery waters.
If you're into canyoning, the Aosta Valley is definitely the place to be. This unique blend of water sports and mountaineering techniques, offers an exhilarating experience of navigating otherwise inaccessible mountain streams nestled between steep rock walls. Throughout the descent, participants negotiate various obstacles such as small waterfalls, pools, natural slides, and rock walls. It's a great way to cool off while exploring pristine environments.
Climbing and via ferrata in the Aosta Valley
Via ferrata is Italian for ‘route with irons’, and the ferrate are mountain routes pre-equipped with fixed cables, steps (stemples), ladders and bridges, allowing walkers and climbers to access terrain without needing to use their own ropes and belays – and without the risks associated with unprotected scrambling. There are around 20 via ferrate of various difficulty, including one in Gressoney-Saint- Jean which is called the Via ferrate dei Bambini (Children's Via Ferrata), but which is actually not suitable for children as they generally cannot reach far enough to secure fastenings! On the other hand the Via Ferrata Harry Potter in Gressoney La Trinité is ideal for children as it's essentially a rock school with a reinforced practice iron wall.
A more classic Via Ferrata route is the Borelli bivouac trail from Courmayer which takes you up to Aiguille Noire de Peuterey, one of the symbols of mountain climbing in the region.
Cultural highlights of the Aosta Valley
Aosta Valley is a treasure trove for history buffs, bearing the marks of five centuries of Roman presence, including remnants of the road to the Gauls, the aqueduct bridge of Pondel, and most notably, the city of Aosta itself. You can also find prehistoric megalithic monuments and over 100 medieval castles, towers and fortresses. Over the centuries, these buildings have undergone multiple transformations, evolving into Renaissance palaces, Romanesque churches, and baroque structures.
The city of Aosta, the capital of the Aosta Valley and gateway to the Alps, was founded by the Romans in 25 BC and maintains a distinctly Roman urban layout, evident within its walls and key structures.
One other must-see building is the Fort of Bard. Preserved almost entirely since its reconstruction, the fort is one of the finest examples of a 19th-century dam fortress, and was one of the most important military establishments in Aosta Valley. Today, the fort houses the Museum of the Alps, the Children's Alps, and a museum of prisons and fortifications.
For more information about visiting the spectacular Aosta Valley, go to aosta-valley.co.uk, and to book your stay in Aosta Valley go to bookingvalledaosta.it
